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autism

Holiday gatherings, decorating, shopping and baking can be hectic for parents, but for children with autism spectrum disorders the holidays can be just as stressful. It’s a season filled with unfamiliar people, unexpected situations and overpowering sights and sounds.

Between massive amounts of sugar, scary costumes and strobe lights, Halloween can be an overwhelming night for children and parents alike, but for children with autism spectrum disorders, Halloween can be an especially frightful occasion. Careful planning can be the key to a fun and successful experience for the entire family.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC), a government agency, just released some new statistics regarding the prevalence of autism among American school children. It says 1 in 50 children have been diagnosed with autism or a related disorder. Previously released data had the estimate much lower at 1 in 88 school children affected by autism.

Do you remember sitting at the lunch table in high school, sharing the latest gossip with your friends?
How special was the first conversation you had with your significant other?
What did you say during the interview that helped you to land your job?

All of these important milestones required social skills that you naturally developed through life experiences. Throughout your life, you figured out how to handle a variety of social situations, both good and bad, and have learned from each of them.

Summer is a great time for kids to get outdoors and play, but for some kids, summer activities may require adaptive equipment or specialized coaching. Luckily, there are many great therapeutic recreation programs for children with special needs. Check out these great programs:

Play is an important aspect in every child’s developmental process. Toys can teach children a variety of skills, including fine-motor skills, visual focus and sense of control over their environment, to name a few.

Through play, children become aware of their surroundings and their capabilities, and they expand their imagination and curiosity. Toys prompt children to not only have fun, but to sustain their curiosity to keep learning.

Autism—it used to be considered a rare disorder. We now know that Autistic Spectrum Disorders are very common (just over one case per 100 children). Posters and news media have raised our level of awareness, and many parents worry about the possibility that their children may be affected. But, exactly what is autism?